Microwave synthesis and magnetic investigations of surfactant assisted NiO nanostructures

Cubic phase of NiO nanoparticles have been prepared by applying microwave method and by using cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), citric acid (CA) and hexamine (H). Size and morphology of nanoparticles have been ascertained through SEM and TEM analyses. Room temperature magnetic measurements reveal week ferromagnetic nature of NiO nanoparticles with higher saturation magnetization (1.20 emu/g) for CTAB than citric acid and hexamine. FC and ZFC magnetization curves display low temperature peak around 12 K and it is due to the formation of hydroxide layers on NiO surface as well as due to the addition of surfactants during the synthesis.